Thought Questions
When the Glory of God Shows Up
Scripture: 1 Kings 8:10-11 (Proper 16B) I like to say that God is present everywhere, and that the difference between one time and another is much more with our awareness of God’s presence than it is with any action on God’s part. But if we believe scripture, there are times when God’s presence is especially [...]
Why did God give Solomon Riches?
See 1 Kings 3:3-14 (Proper 15B) Why does God choose to give Solomon riches and make him great after Solomon asks for wisdom? God is pleased with Solomon’s request and grants it, yet he also grants him everything else he might desire. The result, as we read further into the story, is that Solomon turns [...]
Eating the Bread – Missing the Sign
Our gospel passage (John 6:24-35) for Proper 13B is pretty tightly packed, so I’m going to write a couple of short articles about it this morning. I’ve thought about many things as I was reading this passage, but I won’t have time to write about them all. First of all, as I read this morning, [...]
Romans 4:13-25 – Abraham and God (Lent 2B)
There are two questions I think will prove very much worth some meditation time. This is a rich passage, so obviously there are more, but let me emphasize just two. First, Paul uses Abraham a great deal. In an excursus on page 2015, amongst the notes on chapter 4, the New Interpreter’s Study Bible notes [...]
Questions on Judges 4:1-7
Here are some questions that came to mind as I studied Judges 4:1-7. 1. Why does the lectionary reading end where it does? Would the passage bring a different lesson if one read on to where Barak requires Deborah to accompany him before he’ll go? 2. Does this passage provide a universal justification for women [...]